t once.

'Ruffis, I want thy help, an' I'm willin' to pay fur it.' The
necromancer's fishy eye brightened. Things were going poorly with him,
the rising generation followed newer lights unevident in his earlier
days, and his visitors were mostly of Mrs. Rusker's age, and were
getting fewer day by day.

'My skill's at your service, ma'am, such as it is,' he answered, with
gravity.

'I want some'at as 'd send a body to sleep--mek 'em sleep for a long
time, wi'out hurtin' 'em. Can you doit?'

'Why, yis; I could do that much, I think.' His tone and manner intimated
vaguely how much more he could have done, and his disappointment at the
facility of his task. 'But,' he added prudently, 'it's a job as ain't s'
easy as you might fancy.'

Mrs. Busker laid a sovereign on the table.

'Wilt do it for that?' she asked.

The wizard stole a look at her. She was obviously very much in earnest.

'The hingredients,' he said, 'is hard to find, and harder to mix in doo
perportions.'

'I must have it now, and at once,' said Mrs. Busker.

'That,' said Rufus, 'ain't possible.' Mrs. Jenny laid a second piece of
gold beside the first 'It's a dangerous bisness, missus,' he went
on. 'Theer's noofangled laws about. 'Twas only last wik as that young
upstart, Doctor Hodges, comes an' threatens me with persecution as
a rogue an' vagabond, a-obtainin' money under false pertences for
practisin' my lawful an' necessary art. Why, it ain't so long since I
cured his mother o' the rheumatiz, as is more nor he can dew, wi' all
his drugs, an' the pestle an' mortar o'er his door.'

'You ought to know as you're safe wi' me, Rufus,' said Mrs. Rusker. 'Who
should I tell? Why, I should tell o' myself tew, at that raate; an' is
that likely?'

'It's dangerous, missus,' repeated the wizard.

'Well, if yo' won't, I must try them as wull,' said Mrs. Jenny, rising
and taking up the coins.

'I didn't say as I wouldn't,' returned Rufus. 'Theer's no call to be so
uppish But if I tek a chance like that I expect to be paid for it.'

'Two pound ud mek it wuth your while to do more than that.'

'I'll dew it,' said the wizard. 'Give us the money?'

'Wheer's the stuff?'

'Why, it ain't made yet. D'you think as I can percure a precious
hessence like that all of a minute?'

'Then mek it, an' I'll gie you the money.'

'Gi' me a pound in advance, an' I'll bring it to you.' And on that
understanding the bargain was made, and the time fixed for the delivery